LAUGHTER is heading to Alcester with the launch of a brand new comedy club this month.

Harvey Hawkins hopes to create “something special for the town” when his ‘Alcester Comedy Night’ opens at the Town Hall on Henley Street on Wednesday, March 21.

The 26-year-old comedian, who is an estate agent by trade, said: “I’ve thought about doing this for ages.

“I did a lot of research and thought about opening something up in Stratford where I live, but Alcester has not got anything like this and I want to bring comedy to the town.

“It is too big a town to not have a comedy club. It is the first of its sort for Alcester so I wanted to bring something a bit different to the community.

“The intention is that if the launch night goes well, we will be running the nights on a quarterly basis, every three months.

“I have big plans for this comedy club and I really hope to create something special for the town to be proud of but that can’t happen without the support of the town.”

Four acts will perform on each night.

On the opening night will be Scott Bennett, who has supported Michael McIntrye and Rob Brydon on tour; Lindsey Santoro, who has featured on BBC Radio 4; Tom Christian, who won Midlands New Act of the Year 2015; and Craig Deeley, a semi-finalist on Channel 4's So You Think You're Funny in 2004.

Harvey has also won acclaim on the comedy circuit after scooping the Birmingham Comedy Festival's Breaking Talent Award in 2016.

He has performed with comedians who have starred on TV shows including ‘Mock the Week’ and ‘Live At the Apollo’, and hopes to use his contacts to bring “some of the best acts”.

The opening night will be held in the upstairs room of the iconic War Memorial Town Hall from 8pm, with a bar being put on downstairs for the interval.

Mr Hawkins added: “I really hope that the town comes out and supports the night and I will work very hard to create more great value nights of entertainment on the doorstep.”

The venue holds around 90 people and tickets costing £10 are available from The Turks Head or Simply Fresh.